The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHARLOTTE DIVISION
CASE NO. 3:24-CV-00480-FDW-SCR
LEKISHA DEE BROWN, AS )
ADMINISTRATIX OF THE ESTATE OF )
KARON GOLIGHTLY, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) ORDER
)
WELLPATH LLC et al, )
)
Defendants. )
)
THIS MATTER is before the Court on the motions to dismiss filed by Defendants Lisa
Suddreth, (Doc. No. 48), and Josette C. Alston, Lemuelle A. Claud, Carl R. Cooper, and Wellpath
LLC, (Doc. No. 52).
On November 18, 2024, after the filing of these motions to dismiss, Defendant Wellpath
LLC filed a Notice of Petition of Bankruptcy and Notice of Stay. (Doc. No. 60.) Defendant
Wellpath informed the Court that this proceeding is stayed pending its Chapter 11 bankruptcy
proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. (Id.)
Although this case is currently stayed, two motions to dismiss remain pending. (Doc. Nos.
48, 52.) “[D]istrict courts have the inherent authority to manage their dockets . . . with a view
toward the efficient and expedient resolution of cases . . . .” Moss v. City Hosp., Inc., No. 3:19-
CV-187, 2020 WL 12584435, at *2 (N.D. W. Va. Nov. 10, 2020) (quoting Dietz v. Bouldin, 136
S. Ct. 1885, 1892 (2016)). Accordingly, the Court will deny the pending motions to dismiss and
permit Defendants to refile their motions to dismiss after the stay is lifted.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Motions to Dismiss, (Doc. Nos. 48, 52), are
administratively DENIED without prejudice to refiling after the stay is lifted. Defendants may
refile their motions within twenty-one days after the stay is lifted. This Order is not a ruling on the
merits of either motion.
IT ISSO ORDERED. Signed: January 16, 2025
Frank D. Whitney Sy
Senior United States District Judge ~